OPI Products
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Nail polish, Cosmetics |
| Predecessor | Odontorium Products Inc. |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | George Schaeffer |
| Headquarters | Calabasas, California , United States |
Key people | Mary van Praag (General Manager), Suzi Weiss-Fischmann (Executive Vice President and Artistic Director) |
| Products | Nail polish, Nail care products |
| Parent | Wella Company (division of Coty, Inc. and KKR ownership) |
OPI Products, marketed as O·P·I, is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in nail polish, with its main office located in Calabasas, California. It operates as a division of the Wella Company.
History
Originally known as Odontorium Products Inc., OPI began as a modest dental supply firm before being purchased by George Schaeffer in 1981. Schaeffer collaborated with Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, a Hungarian-born Executive Vice President and Artistic Director at OPI, along with biochemist R. Eric Montgomery, to create an acrylic system marketed directly to nail salons. This led the company to pivot fully toward nail care products, adopting the name OPI Products Inc.
By 1989, the company had branched out into producing nail lacquers and steadily broadened its range of offerings. Significant partnerships included themed collections inspired by Legally Blonde 2 (2003), the Ford Mustang, the 2010 film Alice in Wonderland, and Dell (2009). In 2003, OPI introduced Pawlish, a nail polish designed specifically for dogs, which garnered mixed feedback. Addressing ecological concerns, OPI reformulated its lacquers in 2007 to remove substances such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, and toluene.
Coty, Inc. acquired OPI in 2010. In 2014, Mary van Praag took over as General Manager, succeeding John Heffner, who later became CEO of Drybar.
On December 1, 2020, Coty divested a controlling interest in Wella, Clairol, OPI, and ghd brands to KKR for $2.5 billion but retained a 40% ownership share. Further transactions during 2021 reduced Coty’s stake in these brands to roughly 25.9%, while KKR maintained substantial control and also held a minority share in Coty itself.